Partnership celebrates participation and inclusion of all abilities
MINNETONKA, November 3rd, 2025 – Medica, a Minnesota nonprofit health company with a long history of supporting people with disabilities through employment opportunities and health plan benefits that meet their unique needs, today announced its official partnership with 2026 Special Olympics Games.
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will be held in Minnesota, home to Medica’s headquarters, and will be one of the largest sporting events of the year in the U.S., bringing together thousands of athletes of all abilities, coaches, volunteers and fans from all 50 states.
Medica is the official bowling sponsor for 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Bowling is very popular in the Special Olympics community due to its ease of access, combined with its opportunity for high skill expression. The sport sees more than 177,000 athletes and Unified partners train and compete in the sport each year. At 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, the event will feature competition in individual and team format. Medica employees will serve as volunteers at the bowling venue – Bowlero in Blaine, MN -- throughout the competition.
In addition to volunteering, Medica employees throughout its service area will take part in Polar Plunge fundraising events that benefit Special Olympics.
“The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games represents everything Medica stands for,” said Andrew Marshall, Minnesota Market President for Medica. “We believe everyone should have the opportunity to participate in events that celebrate their abilities and we are honored to come alongside them in moments that matter whether on the athletic field or in a time of health care need.”
Said Medica Chief Operating Officer Adam Hjerpe: “As a Special Olympics parent, the 2026 USA Special Olympics Games Board Chair, and a Medica team member, I’m proud of Medica’s support of the USA Games. It’s one of the largest sporting events in the U.S. in 2026 and I’m delighted our hospitality and heart will be on display.”
“We are deeply grateful to have Medica join us on this journey to celebrate the power of human potential and inspire a nation,” said Christy Sovereign, CEO of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. “Medica’s commitment, from corporate support to employee volunteerism highlights the unified movement we are building. The USA Games are unique because they are not just a competition, but a powerful national platform to drive a lasting legacy of inclusion and acceptance across Minnesota and the entire country.”
About Medica
Medica (www.medica.com) is a mission-driven, member-focused nonprofit health company headquartered in Minnesota. The company serves communities in the heart of America by providing health care coverage and related services in the employer, individual, Medicaid and Medicare markets. It operates in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Medica’s mission to better your life with care in the moments that matter is a testament to a member-focused commitment to high quality, affordable health care.
About 2026 Special Olympics USA Games
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games—scheduled for June 20-26, 2026, across Minnesota’s Twin Cities with sports competitions at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine—is a national celebration of inclusivity, changing perceptions and the ability of the human spirit rising above limitations. The USA Games, with co-presenting partners Jersey Mike’s Subs and UnitedHealthcare, will be one of the biggest U.S. sporting events of the year, drawing tens of thousands of fans to celebrate the ability of over 3,000 incredible athletes from all 50 states as they compete in 16 Olympic-type team and individual sports. As a state with a long history of championing diversity, equity and inclusion, the USA Games now bring an unrivaled opportunity to spark new energy around the Special Olympics movement and create a lasting legacy of positive change.